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The former Brazilian leader has been detained after authorities found he posed a concrete flight risk while under house arrest.

The one-time leader was convicted of planning a government overthrow in September and sentenced more than 27 years in prison, but he remained under confinement pending legal challenges.

High Court Judge the presiding justice said the decision to arrest the elderly politician was a precautionary step after "new facts" emerged.

This included trying to remove his ankle monitor and a call for a demonstration that could facilitate a potential flight.

Court Filing Details Escape Concerns

In a document approving the detention, the judge said intelligence from the facility tracking the former president's confinement suggested the former leader's aim to disable the surveillance device to secure accomplishment in his escape.

This, it said, would be made easier by the disorder caused by the gathering called by his child.

His child, his son Flávio, who works as a legislator, called for a meeting of his supporters near Bolsonaro's home to take place on the weekend.

The senator wrote on digital networks on the previous day: Do you plan to struggle for your homeland, or observe everything from your smartphone there on your sofa? I call on you to struggle with us."

He said the gathering would be so supporters could seek divine intervention for his health and for the restoration of democratic rule in our nation."

Diplomatic Refuge Fears

Part of the magistrate's determination was the potential of Bolsonaro's "relocation to foreign missions near the dwelling, considering that the inquiries revealed a history of organizing to ask for protection through a consular facility", a statement said.

The legal document highlights that the American diplomatic mission in the capital, Brazil's capital, is located around approximately 13 kilometers from Bolsonaro's home.

Global Responses

Bolsonaro's legal woes have provoked anger from fellow populist conservative American leader Donald Trump, leading him to implement a 50% tariff on goods coming from Brazil.

Bolsonaro is being held in a national police facility in Brazil's capital city and will have a custody hearing on Sunday.

Recent Judicial Appeals

It was only on the previous day that the his legal team asked the Top Court to permit him to fulfill his full incarceration period under domestic detention, with digital surveillance.

They also requested that he be permitted to depart his residence for medical care, saying he demanded ongoing care for pulmonary infections and other health problems.

Background on Conviction

Bolsonaro was determined responsible of orchestrating a conspiracy aimed at retaining his authority after he was defeated in the national vote to his political opponent, President Lula.

High Court judges said that he knew of a scheme which included plans to kill Lula and his running partner, Alckmin, and to arrest and execute Justice Moraes - the Supreme Court justice who has been managing Bolsonaro's trial.

The plot was prevented because it couldn't obtain the backing of the armed forces officials. Lula was took office without incident on January 1st, 2023.

But a following week, on 8 January, thousands of his backers invaded and destroyed public facilities in the capital, the capital city.

The police intervened and around 1,500 people were arrested.

The magistrates found that the rioters had been encouraged by the former president whose plan, they said, was for the national armed forces to step in, bring back stability and reinstate his authority.

At the time, the legal team called the over 27-year sentence unreasonably severe".

He was also banned from running for public office until the year 2060 - a decade minus two years after the end of his sentence.

The ex-leader called the legal proceedings a political persecution and said it was aimed at blocking him participating in the 2026 national vote.